KansasFest 2017, the 29th annual Apple II convention, is scheduled for July 18 – 23 in Kansas City, Missouri. Antoine Vignau and Olivier Zardini, the French Brutal Deluxe Software programming team known for countless original Apple II programs and archiving efforts, will join us with a keynote presentation to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Apple II.

Vignau and Zardini founded Brutal Deluxe Software in 1992 focusing on 16-bit software. The team created programs, such as the Convert 3200 graphics tool, and adapted games like Bille Art, The Tinies, Cogito, Blockade, and LemminGS. The team remains active and has since released numerous titles, including Cadius (disk image utility), Merlin 32 (cross-assembler), You, DustHead! (disk head cleaning utility), i’m fEDD up (disk archiving), MountIt (disk image tool), and Fishhead (file copier). They also created comprehensive archives of cassette tapes, French cracking and underground groups, machine serial numbers, and unique documentation.  This year, Brutal Deluxe published demonstrations and tools for playing quadraphonic and octaphonic sound on the Apple IIgs. A quarter-century of continuing Apple II innovations and personal perspectives on the European computing scene are sure to delight and inform KansasFest attendees.